Effects of shape of transverse cross-section on the load carrying capacity of laminated glass columns

Abstract

In this paper simplified expressions for the calculus of the load carrying capacity of glass columns having rectangular, tee (T) and cruciform (X) transverse cross-sections are proposed and verified against available experimental data. Members with T and X cross-sections are obtained by gluing single multilayered glass panels. The expressions derived take into account of the: shape of the transverse cross-section (rectangular, T, and, X sections); buckling phenomenon (flexural and torsional); failure in the glued sections; long time effects. Case of full connections and absence of connections are considered to determine the range of variation of expressions adopted. The comparison between the analytical and the experimental results highlights that in the case of columns or beam-like elements having rectangular cross-sections the flexural buckling resistance governs the load carrying capacity of columns, while in the case of glass columns with X and T cross-sections failure due to torsional buckling effects strongly limits the load carrying capacity of members, also penalized by the glued connection failure.